4-star OT Carde Smith commits to USC Trojans

Mobile (Ala.) Williamson four-star offensive tackle Carde Smith has committed to USC.

Smith decommitted from Auburn in June, just two and a half months after he initially pledged to the Tigers. But now he becomes one of the centerpieces of USC’s 2025 class.

“The USC visit showed me some different things and made USC a real hard push for me to be here,” Smith told WeAreSC.com in June after his official visit. “I’ll definitely be back for a game in the Fall.”

The 6-foot-6, 295-pounder is the No. 231 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 15 recruit Alabama.

Trojans looking to regain some momentum

Landing Smith helps to get the Trojans back on track after what was a rough start to the summer. In early June, the Trojans sat as high as No. 3 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Rankings.

But after seeing a pair of five-star pledges decommit — EDGE Isaiah Gibson and defensive lineman Justus Terry — they’ve dropped all the way to No. 18. Five-star quarterback Julian Lewis still remains as the headliner of the class, but he took official visits to both Auburn and Colorado as those programs work to flip him as well.

The Trojans are also in a battle to hold onto On300 running back pledge Harry Dalton, who recently took an official visit to Alabama.

They have, however, added some key pieces into the class as well, flipping four-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte from Georgia, as well as landing four-star receivers Corey Simms and Tanook Hines.